Adopt Films Nabs Controversial German Euthanasia Drama ‘Zurich’

Adopt Films Nabs Controversial German Euthanasia Drama 'Zurich'

Adopt Films has snapped up US rights to Frederik Steiner’s controversial German drama “Zurich,” which centers on a 20-year-old girl suffering from cystic fibrosis who makes the radical decision to take a cross-country trip to the city of the title, where she can check into a private clinic and end her life.

Newcomer Liv Lisa Fries stars as the lead, Lea. Here’s the official synopsis:

“Zurich” tells the story of a bright, independent-minded
twenty-year old, Lea, who’s been suffering from cystic fibrosis since
birth. She watched her older brother,
whom she idolized, fall victim to the same disease and elects not to endure the
pain and suffering that snuffed out his short life. She plans with the stealth assistance of her
grandmother, to travel across the border to Zurich, to a private, legal clinic,
to end her life. But she finds it an almost unimaginable act unless she is joined
by her mother, older sister, and her beloved grandmother. Unflinching,
uncompromising, and compassionate, “Zurich” blends gallows humor and bravery
with a way past-due introduction to a different kind of pro-life debate.

Adopt president Tim Grady and executive VP Jeff Lipsky stated that “as life expectancy in the U.S. continues to expand the
impassioned subjects of euthanasia and quality of life will be increasingly
critical to address. And with ‘Zurich’ we’ll be proud to be part of that
debate.”

Count us intrigued, and looking forward to a first trailer.

The film had its world premiere at the HOF Film Festival in Munich last month, with Adopt planning a summer 2014 release. This is the company’s third German acquisition in two years, following Christian Petzold’s “Barbara” and Caroline Link’s “Exit Marakech.”